Turner Reserve, Smith Street, Thornbury

This playground embodies what a community play space is all about. The centrepiece is a large round sandpit stacked with Tonka trucks and other sand moving toys which I assume have been provided by local parents. This is next to a concrete path with white lines down the middle to resemble a road. Good natured people have left a range of trikes to ride around the path.

Beside the sandpit is a green crocodile lurking and ready to take the leg off any unfortunate child who is careless enough to get too close to those powerful snapping jaws. Also close to the sandpit are some stumps with climbing holds but not close enough for fallers to have a soft landing in the sandpit.

There is a lovely play structure made from wood which is so rustic that it looks like Mr Darebin made it in his garage. The structure has two metal slides, ladder, scrambling walls, traversing climbing wall, tunnel and steps. Also swings, sit-on carousel (learn the difference between centrifugal and centripetal forces), little wooden cubby, birds nest swing and see-saw plus plenty of rocks and logs to jump across. There are two unshaded tables, unshaded seats, water tap and decent grassy area dotted with trees. This is a real gem.